13 September 2010

PRESS RELEASE

Buckinghamshire sexual health services promote safer sex for young people

Buckinghamshire sexual health services are highlighting the risks of unprotected sex during ‘Sexual Health Week’, which runs from 13 to 19 September.

Young people (aged between 16-24 years old) are particularly at risk of being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Studies have shown that up to 10% of sexually active people younger than 25 years are infected with Chlamydia.

Compared with the national picture, recent figures of sexually transmitted infections in Buckinghamshire are significantly lower than the UK average. But that does not mean that people should let their guard down.

Confidential, free sexual health checks and treatment for all genital and sexually transmitted infections are available at the Shaw clinic (01494 425430), based at Wycombe Hospital and the Brookside clinic (0844 2252407) in Aylesbury.

The Buckinghamshire Chlamydia screening programme is also available to all young people under 25 years of age. Anne Downes, Clinical Lead for the Bucks Chlamydia Screening Programme, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, says: ”Our message to sexually active people under 25 is to have a Chlamydia self test annually, or when you change your partner. 70% of women and 50% of men may have no symptoms and therefore unaware they could have this serious sexually transmitted infection and could be passing it on to other people without realising it by having unprotected sex.”

Anne added: “If left untreated the invisible infection could have serious consequences leading even to infertility in both men and women. The risk is increased if they get infected again and again. The test is free, painless, confidential and now even available to do at home with our postal kit service. We will let people know their results within 14 days by their preferred method of contact text, phone call or letter. Chlamydia is also very easy to treat. For more information or to order a postal self test kit visit www.morethanahug.com"

Teenage pregnancy is another risk of having unprotected sex, 240 young women aged under 18 years became pregnant and in 2008 over 60% of these pregnancies ended in abortion, an avoidable consequence if contraception were used more widely.

Young people’s services which provide free condoms through the C Card scheme; chlamydia testing and pregnancy tests are in locations across Buckinghamshire, including Aylesbury, Buckingham, Burnham, Chesham, High Wycombe and Marlow.

Staff at these young people’s ‘Healthzones’ are trained to provide information and guidance on a range of issues including sexual health. They are concerned that some young people are embarking upon sexual relationships before thinking it through, therefore it is important for each young person to:

•   Only have sex when you are really sure
•   Have fewer sexual partners and avoid overlapping sexual relationships
•   Use a condom when having sex with a new partner and continue to do so
•   Remember the contraceptive pill, injection and implant protect from pregnancies and not STIs so use a condom too
•   Don’t allow use of alcohol and drugs lead to regret over sex later.

Further information on sexual health and contraception and where to find clinics and places to obtain free condoms, chlamydia testing and pregnancy tests can be found at:  www.sexualhealthbucks.nhs.uk

Ends

Notes to editors:

•   Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust provide a wide range of high quality acute and community services from three acute hospital sites in Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe, five community hospitals at Thame, Marlow, Buckingham, Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross and Waterside, and a number of community sites across the county. Details of these can be found here: http://www.buckinghamshirehospitals.nhs.uk/community-health-services.htm

•   Specialist services include our regional dermatology, allergy and skin cancer centre, burns care and plastics sub-regional centre, cardiac services and the National Spinal Injuries Centre

•   More than 6,000 staff serve residents across Buckinghamshire, Thame (Oxfordshire), Tring (Hertfordshire) and Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire) - a combined population of 500,000. It serves a much larger population, 1.5m, for burns and plastic services and 14m for spinal injuries

•   On 1 April 2010 Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust became the new partner to Community Health Buckinghamshire

For further information, contact the communications team on 01494 734959 or at communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk.